Most relocation guides never mention it, but one of the most charming small outings on the First Coast is a five-minute ferry ride across the St. Johns River.

The Mayport Ferry sits just north of St. Johns County, in Jacksonville’s Duval County. It’s an easy day trip from …

If you own rental or investment property in New Jersey, New York, or anywhere else, selling it can trigger a large federal capital gains bill. A 1031 exchange lets you defer that tax by rolling the proceeds into another investment property. For many investors, St. Johns County is where …

Before you buy a property with short-term rental income in mind, understand this: St. Johns County doesn’t operate under one single rulebook. Depending on the exact address, you could fall under the county’s ordinance, the City of St. Augustine’s separate ordinance, or both — and the compliance requirements, occupancy …

If you're considering Stillwater in St. Johns County, Florida, the purchase price is only part of the financial picture.

Stillwater is a 55+ active adult, gated golf community with an 18-hole course, clubhouse, pool, fitness center, pickleball, tennis, bocce and other amenities. It is also a CDD …

St. Johns County puts a historic private college, a fast-growing public university, a state college with bachelor's degrees, and a health sciences graduate school within commuting distance. Whether you're planning visits with a college-bound grandchild or going back to school yourself, you have real options close to home.

If your dog is part of the family decision-making process for this move — and for a lot of relocating buyers, it genuinely is — St. Johns County delivers. Leashed dogs are permitted year-round on the county's beaches, dog parks are woven into nearly every major community park, and …

Between the Intracoastal Waterway, the San Sebastian and St. Johns Rivers, Matanzas Bay, and direct Atlantic access through the St. Augustine Inlet, this county offers some of the most genuinely boat-friendly geography in Northeast Florida.

For buyers considering the lifestyle, here's the real data on marinas, slip costs, …

"Should we just buy land and build exactly what we want?" comes up regularly with buyers who've toured enough production floor plans to want something more personal.

The honest answer requires real numbers — because custom building in St. Johns County costs meaningfully more than most buyers initially …

Both sit in St. Johns County. Both are gated, 55+, and genuinely amenity-rich. But they represent two very different philosophies about what makes a great retirement community.

Here's the honest, side-by-side comparison.

The Basics

"Who's the best builder in St. Johns County?" is the wrong question — and every honest agent will tell you the same thing.

The right question is: which builder fits your price point, your timeline, and your tolerance for design decisions? Every major builder here has produced homes …